Musical chart.



A. J. FRENCH, S. A1MOKELVY & J. W. SGROGGS. MUSICAL CHART.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1910.

1,017,045. Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

1 MODERN 5 1-: 1. F

D E F G A Z A /jZj/ MAJORSUALE j KEYOF Nahn'al 3'2-4 b (/flJE Wlnventoni v V by I (i Attorneys TRuc To MAJOR Mmo MUSICAL gDLllMIHAI'LANOGRAPH CD.,WASIIINGTON, u. C

A. J. FRENCH, S. A. MOKELVY & J. W. SCROGGS.

MUSICAL CHART.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1910.

1,017,045, Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Wicne s s I Inventor.) by

W Attorneys A. J. FRENCH, S. A. MGKELVY & J. W. SGROGGS.

MUSICAL CHART.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1910.

KEYOFE F 0 A! 2/ MUSICAL j I y jnvenom 1 f Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

3 $HEETS-SHEET 3.

Attorneys UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW J. FRENCH, 0F PURCELL, SAMUEL A. MCKELVY, 0F MCCLO'UD, AND JOSEPHW. SCROGGS, OF KINGFISHER, OKLAHOMA.

MUSICAL CHART.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

larly designed for use in self instruction in music the object of theinvention being to provide a simple form of chart having columns thereoncorresponding with the middle keys of a piano, means being provided inconnection with these columns for indicating the positions upon thegreat stafi of all of the notes designated by the respective columns.

A further object is to provide a movable scale for use in connectionwith the main portion of the chart, said scale having parts adj ustablymounted thereon, whereby the indicating letters of the various columnsof the chart may be exposed in predetermined relations to indicate thedifferent scales such as the major scale and the natural, harmonic andmelodic minor scales.

A further object is to so mount the adjustable slide as to enable thevarious scales to be indicated in any key desired.

A still further object is to provide means whereby the various major andminor chords in any key will be accurately indicated and can be readilyfollowed by a student.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists ofcertain novel details of construction and combinations of partshereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention hasbeen shown.

In sald draw1ngs:F1gure 1 1s a plan view of onehalf of the completechart, the

said chart being arranged to indicate the key of C. Fig. 1 is a planview of the other half of the chart. Fig. 2 is a section on line 22Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan View of one of the adjustable side slidescarried by the movable scale. Fig. 4 is a section on line 44 of Fig. 3.Fig. 5 is a plan View of the base slide of the movable scale. Fig.

6 is a section on line 66 Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the otherside slide of the scale. Fig. 8 is a section on line 88 of Fig. 7 Fig. 9is a plan view of one-half of a modified form of chart having anattachment thereon for indicating the fingering of all the scales, saidchart being broken away longitudinally. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig.9 and showing the other half of the chart and attachment. Fig. 10 is aplan view of the chart adapted to be affixed to the roll in thefingering attachment. Fig. 11 is a central transverse section throughthe fingering attachment. Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section through oneend portion of said attachment. Fig. 13 is an end elevation of theattachment.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 10 designates thechart body, the same being formed with a longitudinal channel 11extending throughout the length thereof and having its walls under-cutor rabbeted as indicated at 12 in Fig. 2. This chart body has a seriesof columns 13 extending parallel with the sides of the body andintersecting a great staff 14 which is printed or otherwise indicated onthe chart body and extends longitudinally thereof. Each of the columns13 corresponds with one of the keys of the keyboard of a piano, andthose portions of the columns between the channel 11 and the lower edgeof the chart body are made black and white, so as to correspond with theblack and white keys of the keyboard. Characters indicating all of thenotes of the chromatic scale are arranged upon the face at the back orbottom of the channel 11 and in proper succession within the respectivecolumns 13, these characters running from E below the bass clef to Aabove the treble clef. This row of characters has been indicated at 15.Letters indicating the white keys of the keyboard are placed in theproper columns 13 along the chart body and close to the upper edge ofthe channel 11, these letters being indicated by the words White keys.The word Middle is arranged above the middle C on the chart body wherefound in the line indicated by the words WVhite keys and an arrow ispreferably indicated upon the lower end portion of the column designatedby Middle C. Each column 13 has a note therein in its proper positionupon the great staff 14 and those of the columns belonging to the octavebeginning with low E are extended upwardly so as to intersect a bassclef 16, on which are arranged the signatures of the various keys. Thosecolumns belonging to the octave de scending from high A intersect atreble clef 17 arranged along the upper edge portion of the chart bodyand having the signatures of the different keys arranged in the propercolumns.

A movable scale 18 is slidably mounted within the channel 11 and isretained in the said channel by the rabbeted portion 12. The slide 18has a series of alining slots 19 extending the whole length of the scaleon the slide, said slots being so separated that when the parts of thechart are in their normal positions relative to each other, thecharacters C sharp and D flat, and F sharp and G flat, of the series orrow 15 will be concealed, thus leaving exposed ten characters of thechromatic scale.

Columns 20 are indicated on the movable scale 18 and are adapted toregister with the columns 13, these columns being provided, below theslots 19, with the syllables and numbers of the major scale whilearranged in the columns and above the slots 19, are syllables readablein connection with the data on the adjustable slides to indicate theminor scales. For example, when one of the slides is moved so as tochange the major third to a minor third the melodic minor scale would beindicated whereas, by moving the other slides the harmonic and naturalminor scales would be indicated.

The upper portions of the columns 20 on the moving scale are intersectedby parallel lines respectively designated by the subheadings Dominant,Sub-dominant and Tonic these sub-headings being arranged adjacent themain heading Minor chords. These main and sub-headings are located atthe left ends of the lines, while the right ends of said lines aredesignated by the headings Melodic minor scale Harmonic minor scale, andNatural minor scale. The heading Minor scale is arranged in alinementwith the syllables of the minor scale heretofore referred to. The notesconstituting the dominant chord are indicated by coloring the propercolumns above the line designated by the word Dominant, and as indicatedat 21. The notes constituting the sub-dominant minor chord are indicatedby coloring those portions of the proper columns indicated by the linehaving the sub-heading Sub-dominant and as indicated at 22. The notesconstituting the minor tonic chord are inclicated by coloring thoseportions of the proper columns located adjacent the line having thesub-heading Tonic and as indicated at 23. It is to be understood ofcourse that the different chords are differently colored so that theymay be readily distinguished.

The notes of the melodic minor scale are indicated by numerals arrangedin proper succession, above the upper line of the aforesaid parallelchord and minor scale lines. The notes of the harmonic minor scale areindicated by numerals arranged in proper succession adjacent theintermediate line of the said lines, while the notes constituting thenatural minor scale are indicated by numerals arranged in propersuccession upon the lower line of the said lines. This arrangement hasbeen clearly indicated in Fig. 1 The lower portions of the columns 20 onthe movable scale are intersected by a series of parallel lines 24Lindicated, respectively, by the heading Major chords, and by thesub-headings Tonic Sub-dominant and Dominant. See Fig. 1 The notesconstituting the major tonic chord are indicated by coloring thoseportions of the proper columns located directly above the line indicatedby the word Tonic. Those notes constituting the major sub-dominant chordare designated by coloring the proper columns at points above the linehaving the heading Sub-dominant. The notes constituting the dominantchord are designated by coloring the proper columns at points above theline having the heading Dominant. Since the slot 19 with itsintersecting portions 8X- poses ten characters of the chromatic scale,additional slides are required with parts to conceal three of thecharacters so as to leave only seven to the octave.

A series of three subordinate slides, designated by the numerals 25, 26and 27 has, therefore, been interposed between the movable scale 18 andthe bottom or back of the channel 11, the slide 25 being under theslides 26 and 27 and all of said slides being extended throughout thelength of the chart. Thebottom or back slide 25 has a series of aliningslots 28 therein and separated by cut-oil strips 29, each of which isthickened so that it will rest within one of the slots 19 and with itsupper face flush with the upper face of the moving scale 18. Thesecut-off strips 29 are so arranged that, when the chart is set toindicate the key of C said cut-offs will lie within the Eb columns andthus conceal the characters Di? and Eb arranged on the bottom of thechannel 11. The upper slide 26 has ears 30 extending laterally therefromand across the slots 28, these ears being thickened and elevated so asto rest within the slots 19. The said ears are so located that, when thechart is set to indicate the key of C, they will lie within the columnsdesignated by the character Bb, thus concealing the characters At and Bbarranged on the bottom of the channel 11.

The lower slide 27 has laterally extending ears 31 which are thickenedand elevated above the slide 27 so as to rest within the slots 19. Theseears are so positioned that, when the chart is set to indicate the keyof G they will rest within the columns indicated by the characters Ab,thus concealing the characters Ab and B11 arranged on the bottom of thechannel 11.

A knob 32 is secured to the right end portion of the movable scale 18 sothat said scale can be held against movement relative to the body of thechart during the adjustment of the slldes 25, 26 and 27. Slide 25 has aknob 33 at its left end which is slidably mounted within a slot 34 inthe scale 18. Another knob 35 extends from the upper slide 26 andprojects through a slot 36 formed within the scale 18. A knob 37 extendsfrom the lower slide 27 and through a slot 38 in the scale 18. Slot 36has the numeral 1 at its left end and the numeral 3 at its right end,while slot 34 has the numeral 1 at its left end and the numeral 2 at itsright end.

The numeral 1 is located at the left end of the slot 28 and the numeral4 is located at the right end thereof. The heading Major scale isarranged upon the scale 18 and adjacent the slot and the numerals 1,1,1

. are placed beside this heading. The main heading Minor scales is alsoarranged on the scale 18 and located thereunder are subheadings Natural3. 2. 4. Harmonic 1. 2. 4. and Melodic 1. 2. 1.

The knobs 33, 35 and 37 are so positioned that when they are movedtoward the numeral 1 in slots 34, 36 and 38, only the charactersindicating the notes of the major scale will appear through the slots 19and between the cutofl?s;29, 30 and 31. In other words the heading Majorscales 1. 1. 1. constitutes directions showing that when the knobs aremoved to the three numerals 1, 1, 1, the major scale will be indicatedthrough the slots 19. By then shifting the scale 18 so as to bring thesyllable do in the column with middle C, the proper keys to be depressedor played in the key of C will be accurately indicated. By shifting thesyllable do so as to bring it into any one of the remaining columns, theproper notes to be played in any key will be accurately indicated.Should it be desired to play the natural minor scale, the knob 36 isshifted to the numeral 3, the knob 33 is shifted to the numeral 2 andthe knob 37 is shifted to the numeral 4. All three of the slides 25, 26and 27 will thus be moved to the right and cover the charactersappearing in E, A and B columns. The notes of the natural minor scalewill thus appear and by shifting the scale 18 after the parts have thusbeen adjusted, said natural minor scale can be indicated in any desiredkey. In order to indicate the harmonic minor scale, the knob 35 isshifted to the numeral 1, the knob 33 to the numeral 2, and the knob 37to the numeral 4. To indicate the melodic minor scale, the knobs 35 and37 are shifted toward the numeral 1, while the knob 33 is shifted towardthe numeral 2. After the slides have been adjusted in any of these waysso as to indicate any scale desired, the scale'18 can be moved withinthe channel 11 so as to indicate the selected minor scale in anypredetermined key. The various major and minor chords indicated by thecolored spaces, can be transposed to different keys by shifting thescale 18.

In Figs. 9 and 9 a modified form of chart has been shown, this chartbeing provided with an attachement whereby the proper fingering in allof the keys may be 21.0011". rately indicated. The chart structure shownin these figures is similar in all respects to the structure shown inFigs. 1 and 1 the only difference being the provision of an elongatedrecess or cut away portion 39 eX- tending along three octaves of thechart and within the lower edge portion of said chart. Within thisrecess is seated a tubular casing 40 which may be attached to the backof the chart in any preferred manner, as by means of tongues 41 glued orotherwise affixed thereto. This casing has a longitudinal slot 42extending throughout the length thereof and close to the exposed face ofthe chart. The outer face of this casing 40 has annular stripes,preferably black and white, which correspond with the keys of thekeyboard and with the lower ends of the columns 20.

A roll 43 is mounted to rotate within the casing 40 and is provided atone end with a knob 44 or the like whereby it can be convenientlyrotated. A chart 45 of paper or the like is glued or otherwise attachedto the surface of the roll 43 and extends throughout the length thereof,this chart being divided into columns 46 each of which is adapted toregister with one of the columns 40 belonging to the three middleoctaves of the chart. Said columns 46 are intersected by parallel lines47 which form twelve spaces in each column, the corresponding spaces ofall of the columns being designated by a key indicating characterlocated atone end of the chart. As shown in Fig. 10, these characters,designated at 48, indicate all of the keys, the same being readabledownwardly from G to E. Arranged in the spaces designated by the letterG are numerals and letters adapted to be simultaneously exposed throughthe slots 42 when the letter G is brought into position back of saidslot. These numerals appear in the columns corresponding with the keysto be depressed when playing in the key of G, the numerals indicatingthe fingers to be used. Certain of the figures are black and indicatethe fingering of the major scale and part of the minor scale. Where thefingering of the minor scale differs from that of the major scale suchdifference is indicated by figures of another color and which, in Fig.1.0, have been indicated by dotted lines. Where the same fingering isused in both the major and minor scales, the finger is indicated by asingle black figure except that in the melodic minor scale the fingeringof the 6th and 7th of the scale is indicated by the letter M in redafter the figure. Where both a red and a black figure occur in the samespace, it denotes that the fingering of the key indicated by that spaceis different in major and minor scales, the red figure indicating theminor and the black figure the major.

It will be seen that by providing a chart such as has been shown inFigs. 9 to 13, the proper fingering of all the major and minor scalescan be quickly determined.

i/Vhat is claimed is 1. A music chart including a body having columnsthereon corresponding with the keys of a key-board, each of said columnsbeing provided with a note of the staff and a character, a slidablemember mounted on the body and having columns adapted to register withthe columns on the body, said member having characters correspondingwith the characters in the columns on the body, the said columns on theslidable member having means for exposing the notes constituting apredetermined chord and slides carried by the slidable member andseparately movable to conceal certain of the characters on the slidablemember and to expose those characters designating the notes of apredetermined scale.

2. A music chart including a body having key-indicating columns and astaff intersected by the columns, each column being provided with a noteon the staff and with a character, a longitudinally slotted memberslidable on the body, separate slides mounted on said member, andconcealing devices carried by the slides and arranged in alinement, saidmember and concealing devices cooperating to select the notes in thecolumns to make up a predetermined scale.

3. A music chart including a body having key indicating columns thereonand. a staff intersected by the columns, each column being provided witha note upon the staff and with a character, a slotted member slidablymounted on the body and normally concealing certain of the charactersthereon, and separately movable slides cooperating with said slidablemember and having portions adapted to conceal certain of the charactersin the columns, said slides being shiftable relative to the slidablemember to expose the characters forming a predetermined scale, saidmember andslides being movable together to indicate the selected scalein a predetermined key.

4. A music chart including a body having columns adapted to registerwith the keys of a piano keyboard and designated by charactersindicating the tones of the chromatic scale, and separate means havingportions for concealing all of said characters but those of apredetermined major scale, said means being movable relative to eachother and to the body to expose characters indicating the change frommajor sixths and sevenths to minor sixths and sevenths.

5. A music chart including a body having columns adapted to registerwith thekeys of a piano keyboard and designated by characters indicatingthe notes of the chromatic scale, and separate means having portions forconcealing all of said characters but those of a predetermined majorscale, said means being movable independently relative to each other andto the body to expose characters indicating-the change from majorthirds, sixths and sevenths to minor thirds, sixths and sevenths.

6. A music chart including a body having columns adapted to registerwith the keys of a piano keyboard and designated by a single row ofcharacters indicating the notes of the chromatic scale, and separatelymovable slides on the body and each having an open portion extendingthroughout the length of the series of characters, there being portionson the slides and intersecting said open portions for concealing all butseven characters to the octave.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have heretoaffixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

ANDREXV J. FRENCH. SAMUEL A. MoKELVY. JOSEPH WV. SCROGGS.

Witnesses J. LANE, J. M. HATOHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

